Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Electricity: Storage

baroness featherstone: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to develop a strategy to ensure future continuity on network charging in relation to electricity storage; and if so, how.

lord prior of brampton: The charging regime is the responsibility of Ofgem as the independent regulator. In the joint BEIS/Ofgem Smart Systems and Flexibility Plan released on 24 July 2017 it was recognised that at present network charges can put storage at a relative disadvantage to other network users, preventing a level playing field. The Government is keen to see fair changes to the charging regime that create a level playing field for storage. Ofgem indicated that changes to storage charging would be best and most rapidly brought forward by industry, and two modifications have now been raised to address this issue. Ofgem also expects industry to provide guidance on the treatment of storage as intermittent or non-intermittent in the distribution charging methodologies by the end of 2017.

Cost of Energy Independent Review

baroness featherstone: To ask Her Majesty's Government what are the specific financial interests which are referred to in the declaration of interest by Professor Dieter Helm published on 6 August in relation to the cost of energy review.

lord prior of brampton: The review is being conducted in accordance with well-established principles for transparency and accountability, typical of this kind of independent review. As the declaration of interests makes clear, Professor Helm will not change any financial interest he might have in companies that are active in the UK energy sector during the course of the review.

Tidal Power: Swansea Bay

baroness randerson: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their timescale for making a decision on plans for a Swansea tidal lagoon, following publication ofthe Hendry Review in January.

lord prior of brampton: The Government is considering the findings of the independent Hendry Review before deciding, in light of the relevant factors, its position on the proposed Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon project.

Department for Exiting the European Union

UK Trade with EU

lord allen of kensington: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their assessment ofhow World Trade Organisation rules would affect the UK economy, broken down by sector, were the UK to leave the EU without a trade deal.

baroness anelay of st johns: A future partnership between the UK and EU is in the interests of both sides, and we are confident that we will secure a good deal for the UK as a whole.A responsible government should, however, prepare for all potential outcomes, including the unlikely scenario in which no mutually satisfactory agreement can be reached. The Government is undertaking a comprehensive programme of analytical work to assess, across a range of scenarios on a sector by sector basis, the economic impacts of exiting the European Union. However, as Parliament has agreed, it would not be appropriate to publish any such information that could damage our negotiating position.

Brexit

baroness hayter of kentish town: To ask Her Majesty's Government what meetings they have held with the Chartered Trading Standards Institute with regard to Brexit over the past sixmonths, particularly inrespectoftheir undertaking to "continue to engage with...consumer organisations", as set out in their position paper published in August, Continuity in the availability of goods for the EU and the UK.

baroness anelay of st johns: Officials from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) have regular contact with the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) as part of the Consumer Protection Partnership (CPP). CPP is an operational and strategic group, chaired by BEIS, and CTSI are fully engaged in all partners' discussions, including on EU exit.With the negotiations underway, officials from HM Government will continue to engage widely with consumer organisations. We will reach a successful outcome by drawing on the expertise of these groups, understanding their perspectives and working with them to test and validate positions as we prepare to leave the European Union.

Department for International Development

Burma: Refugees

lord ahmed: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the needs of refugees fleeing violence in the Rakhine region of Myanmar.

lord ahmed: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the UK is, or will be, contributing humanitarian aid for Rohingya refugees; and if so, how much has been contributed to date.

lord ahmed: To ask Her Majesty's Government what support, if any, they plan to give to the government of Bangladesh to accommodate Rohingya refugees from Myanmar.

lord bates: We are working at the highest levels with the government, other donors and the UN to improve access and ensure that aid reaches those that need it most. However this is a changing situation and there is not yet access to the conflict areas for a needs assessment. We are working with others to establish a picture of what is happening, where people are and what shape they are in. The UK has long been one of the biggest contributors of humanitarian aid for the displaced population in both Burma and Bangladesh. DFID has already committed £5.9 million to meet the needs of displaced Rohingya and the host communities who support them in Bangladesh. This is reaching 55,188 people with a range of support including food, education and protection of the safety and dignity of the most vulnerable, including women and girls. A further £5 million is being made available to provide urgent assistance to newly arriving refugees with needs such as food, shelter, and water and sanitation. Within Rakhine State we have provided over £30 million in humanitarian assistance since 2012, including food and sanitation for over 126,000 people. The UK Government is deeply concerned about the violence against the Rohingya and other communities in Burma’s Rakhine State, and the plight of thousands fleeing their homes.

Burma: Humanitarian Aid

the lord bishop of coventry: To ask Her Majesty's Government what humanitarian assistance they are providing to help alleviate the emerging humanitarian crisis in Rakhine State in Burma.

lord bates: Since 2012, the UK has provided over £30 million in humanitarian assistance in Rakhine state, including food and sanitation for over 126,000 people. Our partners are delivering humanitarian assistance to more than 80,000 people in the non-conflict zones of Rakhine State. We continue to strongly urge the Burmese authorities to allow the access of aid, food and medication to all affected communities in Rakhine and we are working closely with them to support this. In northern Rakhine DFID partners are ready to provide emergency food assistance to 30,000 people and to treat more than 3,000 severely malnourished children and pregnant women once access is granted. DFID has also committed £10.9 million to meet the needs of displaced Rohingya and the host communities who support them in Bangladesh.

Syria: Drinking Water

lord mcinnes of kilwinning: To ask Her Majesty's Government what specific measures they are taking to support the Free Syrian Army to ensure the re-introduction of safe drinking water to Raqqa.

lord bates: Humanitarian organisations are currently unable to enter Raqqa City as it is an active conflict zone. DFID funded partners – United Nations agencies and non-governmental organisations – are supporting those displaced by the fighting with water, sanitation and hygiene assistance, food and shelter. To increase access to water, our partners are providing safe drinking water and chlorine for water purification, and repairing the water network in the nearby town of Tabqa.

South Sudan: Refugees

baroness tonge: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assistance they are giving to the government of Uganda to help with the reception of refugees from South Sudan; and what assessment they have made of how the health servicesin that countryare coping with the needs of refugee women.

lord bates: Her Majesty’s Government is providing £40m in bilateral aid this year to support the Ugandan Government’s response to its refugee population of 1.3m, of whom 1m are from South Sudan. This support is providing food for 1 million people, clean water and nutrition support for more than 200,000, shelter and relief items for 116,000 and vaccinations for 40,000 children. 82% of Uganda’s refugees are women and children. Health care for refugees is provided largely through the existing health system. The main challenges are ensuring adequate infrastructure, human resources and supplies to meet the increased demand for reproductive and maternal health services; and the management of communicable diseases such as malaria.

Sri Lanka: Disaster Relief

lord naseby: To ask Her Majesty's Government whatadditional aid they have offered to Sri Lanka to help cope with the severe drought and floods which have affected over one million people.

lord bates: Our assessment is that the crisis in Sri Lanka is being adequately managed through existing mechanisms in Sri Lanka, including the Government’s National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) and humanitarian agencies on the ground, including the Sri Lankan Red Cross Society. The UK provides significant amounts of funding to UN humanitarian emergency agencies (such as UNHCR, UNICEF and WFP), the EU’s humanitarian emergency response agency (ECHO) and the Red Cross, all of whom are contributing to the response. At the moment therefore we do not anticipate that a bilateral response from the UK will be needed. Other countries in the region are also providing assistance, and the US and EU have offered their support.

Sudan: Sanctions

the lord bishop of leeds: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the humanitarian impact of sanctions on the people of Sudan.

lord bates: HMG, through DFID, follows the humanitarian situation closely and provides over 550 thousand vulnerable people in Sudan with humanitarian assistance each year. DFID supports Sudan’s most vulnerable people to meet their basic needs, sustain their livelihoods, and build their resilience to crises.We welcome the temporary suspension of US bilateral economic sanctions on Sudan, which if lifted permanently will support progress towards inclusive economic development for Sudan’s people. We encourage the Government of Sudan to continue to make the required progress to enable permanent lifting of US sanctions. The UK continues to apply the United Nations’ arms embargo and targeted sanctions in Darfur, as well as the European Union arms embargo on Sudan.

Caribbean: Hurricanes and Tornadoes

lord condon: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many British emergency services personnel are being deployed to assist in the aftermath of hurricane Irma; where those personnel will be deployed; and what range of assistance they will provide.

lord bates: We now have almost 700 military personnel, over 50 police, and a senior search and rescue adviser from the UK’s fire and rescue services in the Caribbean region to assist in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma. DFID has sent over 18 humanitarian and logistics advisers in the region, including humanitarian advisers in Anguilla, Turks and Caicos, and the British Virgin Islands, where they are supporting Governors and local authorities.All UK personnel are deployed as part of a coordinated cross-Government response, bringing together military, aid, and consular effort. Across the affected area, our personnel have delivered urgent humanitarian relief, assisted in restoring vital infrastructure, and supported local institutions in maintaining law and order. We will continue to work closely with our advisors on the ground and with the Overseas Territories governments to deploy our specialists where they are most needed.The Government will continue to do all it can to support those affected. Further details of our work are available on our website.

Turkey: Historic Buildings

lord patten: To ask Her Majesty's Government what help they can offer to Turkey to assist in the cultural preservation of damaged historical buildings in the Suriçi neighbourhood.

lord bates: The UK Government has committed £30 million to help protect and restore cultural heritage in twelve target countries in the Middle East and North Africa, including Turkey, through the establishment of the Cultural Protection Fund. The British Council is funding two projects in Diyarbakir province which includes Suriçi. The projects will cover surveys, documentation and condition assessments of buildings in order to allow for appropriate conservation planning in the future.

Department for Education

GCE A-level

lord storey: To ask Her Majesty's Government, in the light of recent leaks of A-Level examination questions, what measures they plan to put in place to restore public confidence; and what steps they are taking to ensure consistent sanctions against those who leak such information.

lord nash: This is a matter for the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual) and I have asked its Chief Regulator, Sally Collier, to write directly to the noble Lord. A copy of her reply will be placed in the House of Lords Library.

Grammar Schools

lord storey: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that selective schools do not de-select students at the age of 16.

lord nash: Where schools admit external applicants into their sixth form, it is lawful for them to set minimum academic standards for entry. The Education (Pupil Registration) (England) Regulations 2006 as amended also permits schools to remove pupils from the admission register who are above compulsory school age, if they do not meet the academic entry standards for the sixth form. The regulations do not permit their removal from the register for failure to maintain high academic attainment once they have entered the sixth form. The Department’s statutory guidance: ‘Exclusion from maintained schools, Academies and pupil referral units in England’ explicitly states that, once a pupil is enrolled, it is unlawful to exclude for a non-disciplinary reason such as academic attainment or ability. We expect all schools to adhere to these rules and we have recently written to them to remind them of their responsibilities.

Schools: Registration

lord warner: To ask Her Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the number of children being taught at unregistered schools; and what information and directions they have given to (1) local authorities, and (2) Ofsted, on this issue.

lord warner: To ask Her Majesty's Government how manyunregistered schools have beenclosed in each of the last three years for whichrecords areavailable.

lord warner: To ask Her Majesty's Government what powers, (1) Ofsted, (2) local authorities, and (3) the Secretary of State, have to close unregistered schools; what representations they have received about the adequacy of such powers; and whether they have any plans to strengthen those powers.

lord warner: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they regard children attending unregistered schools to be children at risk and therefore subject to assessment under local authority child protection procedures.

lord nash: National statistics on the number of children being taught at unregistered schools are not held centrally. However, we are working closely with Ofsted and local authorities to tackle this sector. We have provided Ofsted with additional resources to root out and inspect those suspected of operating unlawfully and take action to bring them into compliance with the law. We have also been supporting local authorities to use their existing powers under safeguarding or health and safety legislation to disrupt and tackle both unsuitable out-of-school settings and unregistered independent schools. Although we don’t track closures of unregistered schools, Ofsted’s Annual Report 2015/16: education, early years and skills, published on 1 December 2016, noted that from January 2016 to end August 2016 (the end of the period covered by the report), Ofsted inspected 38 such settings; Ofsted issued 19 warning notices telling proprietors to cease operating illegally; and 15 of those providers ceased to operate illegally following those inspections. Ofsted will publish its next annual report later this year.The annual report can be accessed on gov.uk at https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/574186/Ofsted_annual_report_education_and_skills_201516_web-ready.pdf.It is a criminal offence for any person to operate an unregistered independent school and Ofsted has powers to inspect such settings. Anyone who is found to be conducting an independent school without registration is breaking the law and may be liable to prosecution. However, in most cases, collaborative working between Ofsted and local authorities has resulted in such settings voluntarily ceasing to operate unlawfully, which is verified by the figures highlighted in the Ofsted report referred to above. As part of our ongoing work with Ofsted and local authorities we have been raising awareness on how we can all work together to help ensure that children are safe and are receiving a suitable education. We keep this under constant review. The legislative framework for the child protection system in England is provided largely by the Children Act 1989 and the Children Act 2004. This sets out the overarching responsibility of local authorities for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children in their area, regardless of where they are educated. It is for local authorities to assess whether the threshold for intervention is met in the case of an individual child taking account of the impact and influence of environmental factors, such as attending an unregistered school. However, wherever local authorities have reasonable cause to suspect that a child is suffering, or likely to suffer, significant harm, they are under a duty to investigate. Local authorities should make whatever enquiries necessary to decide what, if any, action to take to safeguard or promote the child’s welfare.



Ofsted annual report education and skills 2015-16
(PDF Document, 3.29 MB)

Overseas Companies: Race Relations

baroness primarolo: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they are planning to amend the Race Relations Act 1965 and subsequent related legislation to clarify the extent to which that legislation applies to the activities outside the UK of UK-based (1) companies, and (2) directors.

lord nash: The employment provisions of the Equality Act 2010 (“the Act”), which supersedes previous equalities legislation, only apply to employer activities in Great Britain. Some activities outside Great Britain may also be in scope of the Act, if the employment relationship is found to have a strong connection with Great Britain. The Government has no plans to amend the Act in this respect.

Vocational Education: Overseas Students

baroness garden of frognal: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many (1) EU, and (2) non-EU, overseas students are taking technical, professional and vocational courses in the UK.

lord nash: The department does not collect data on the nationality of Further Education students. Students will be eligible for Education and Skills Funding Agency funding if they are a citizen of a country within the European Economic Area (EEA) and have been resident in the EEA for at least three years prior to the start of learning and are ordinarily resident in England.

Education

lord storey: To ask Her Majesty's Government when they will respond to the consultation on out-of-school education settings which closed in January 2016; and whether they propose to introduce provisions that would require such settings to (1) register, and (2) be subject to risk-based inspections.

lord storey: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact that requiring out-of-school settings to (1) register, and (2) be subject to risk-based inspections, would have on addressing the existence of illegal unregistered schools.

lord nash: The Government published a Counter Extremism Strategy in 2015, which set out plans to introduce a new system of oversight for out-of-school education settings – such as supplementary schools, tuition centres and madrassahs. To learn more about these settings, and the potential scope and impact of any regulatory system, the department issued a call for evidence. We will make an announcement about the outcome in due course.

Government Departments: Equal Pay

lord storey: To ask Her Majesty's Government which government departments have not yet met the requirement to publish information about gender pay gaps between male and female employees.

lord nash: All government departments listed in Schedule 2 to the Equality Act 2010 (Specific Duties and Public Authorities) Regulations 2017 are required to publish this information if they have 250 or more employees, including staff working in executive agencies.

Ministry of Justice

Prisoners on Remand: Acquittals

lord beecham: To ask Her Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the number of remand prisoners acquitted of the offences for which they were remanded in the year 2016-17.

lord keen of elie: The latest currently available data on court remand covers the 2016 calendar year. Of the 345,897 defendants who were prosecuted and subsequently not convicted at magistrates’ courts, approximately 9% (32,238) had been remanded in custody at some point during those proceedings.Of the 37,606 defendants who were subsequently not convicted at the Crown Court, approximately 17% (6,524) had been remanded in custody at some point during those proceedings.Those defendants included as not convicted include those who were not proceeded against at magistrates’ courts and those who were not tried at the Crown Court due to the proceedings terminating early, for example due to the defendant dying before the court appearance date.

Ministry of Defence

Military Aid

lord campbell of pittenweem: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many (1) officials, and (2) service personnel, are engaged in advising foreign governments on their obligations under international law on the conduct of military operations, broken down by country.

earl howe: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) provides training to foreign governments and their Armed Forces on international law, including on topics such as international humanitarian law, counter-piracy and maritime law, and the military justice system. The number of UK officials and Service personnel involved in providing this training changes over the course of a year. The majority of international law training is provided by individuals and small teams deploying and visiting for short periods of time.This year the MOD has provided training to the Czech Republic, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Tunisia, and Uganda. We also welcomed foreign students from Canada, Denmark, the Republic of Ireland, Nigeria, Switzerland, Uganda, and the USA on UK courses such as the Brigade Legal Officers course. One British Army lawyer works in the International Institute for Humanitarian Law at San Remo, Italy.Additionally training and advice on international humanitarian law is incorporated into a range of military training delivered by the UK Armed Forces to our international partners. I refer the noble Lord to the answer I gave on 1 December 2016 to Question HL3314 to Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts, which details those countries the UK trained during financial year 2016-17.Finally, officials and Service personnel meet their foreign counterparts at conferences, in multi-lateral organisations including NATO, and at academic institutions. The MOD does not centrally record these meetings and a full response could only be provided at disproportionate costs.

Ascension Island: Aviation

lord jones of cheltenham: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to revert to using Ascension Island as a refuelling stop after scheduled works have been completed; and when they expect flights using Ascension to resume.

earl howe: Following the scheduled restructuring works to the Wideawake runway on Ascension Island, the Ministry of Defence fully intends on returning to Ascension Island to continue operation of the South Atlantic Airbridge to the Falklands.

St Helena: Aviation

lord jones of cheltenham: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the possibility of using St Helena Airport as a refuelling stop for flights to and from the Falkland Islands.

earl howe: The distance between the UK and the Falkland Islands and the time spent over water necessitates the use of large aircraft which have the capability to operate the route. The runway length at St Helena Airport has been assessed by the Ministry of Defence as not sufficient to enable our large military aircraft to operate from it.

Ascension Island: Aviation

lord jones of cheltenham: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, following the completion of scheduled works to the US Airbase Wideawake Airfield on Ascension Island, the RAF will resume their use of that airfield.

earl howe: Ascension Island remains strategically important in supporting the Ministry of Defence (MOD) mission in the South Atlantic. The MOD fully intends to return to Ascension Island following the full restructuring of the runway.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Insects: Non-native Species

marquess of lothian: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) the decline since 2012 in UK native ladybird species as a result of the invasive Harlequin ladybird, and (2) the impact of this decline on the resilience of ecosystems; and what steps they are taking to address this.

lord gardiner of kimble: The Harlequin ladybird (Harmonia axyridis), a native of central and eastern Asia, was released for the control of pest insects across Europe from the late 1980s. It was first recorded in the UK in 2003 and considered an established species by 2005. There are no known cases of the Harlequin ladybird having been deliberately released in the UK and it is believed to have arrived through natural dispersal from Europe. The Government has not conducted its own assessment of the decline in UK native ladybird species as a result of the Harlequin ladybird. However, research carried out by the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, and analysis by UK experts using records collated through the UK Ladybird Survey, indicate that the Harlequin ladybird is displacing some native ladybird species, by out-competing them for food and through direct predation. Further research is planned by the Centre of Ecology and Hydrology to understand better the impact of the Harlequin ladybird on the resilience of the UK’s natural ecosystems. The Harlequin ladybird is now widely spread across the UK, particularly in England. There are no appropriate methods for controlling the Harlequin ladybird which would not also harm native species and no effective mitigation measures that can be adopted to address their impacts. The Harlequin ladybird however, provides an important case study that has informed our response to invasions of similar non-native species.

Home Office

Sharia Law Independent Review

baroness cox: To ask Her Majesty's Government when they expect the independent inquiry into the application of Sharia Law in the United Kingdom to conclude; and when they expect the report to be published.

baroness williams of trafford: Professor Mona Siddiqui’s independent review into the application of Sharia law in England and Wales is expected to report to the Home Secretary in the coming months. The Government will consider the publication of the review and its response, once the review report has been submitted.

Sharia Law Independent Review

baroness cox: To ask Her Majesty's Government what has caused the delay in publishing the report of the independent inquiry into the application of Sharia Law in the United Kingdom.

baroness williams of trafford: The Government’s independent review into the application of Sharia law in England and Wales is not delayed. The review chair, Professor Mona Siddiqui, is expected to submit her review report in the coming months.

Immigrants: Detainees

baroness hamwee: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the responseby Baroness Williams of Trafford on 4 July (HL Deb, cols 788–9) and her Written Answer on 31 July (HL668), regarding rates of pay for work undertaken by immigration removal centre detainees, whether any of the work undertaken by thosedetainees was duplicated by staff or employees of (1) the Home Office, or (2) the Immigration Removal Centre; if so, what were the rates paid to those detaineesfor that work; and what is their assessment of why no savings or efficiencies have been realised by the Home Office or private service providers.

baroness williams of trafford: It is not permitted contractually for private service providers to use the detainee paid work scheme to replace staffing obligations in immigration removal centres. None of the work undertaken by detainees on a voluntary basis in this scheme is duplicated by staff or employees of either the Home Office or the private service provider and there are no savings or efficiencies realised by the Home Office or private service providers.

Acids: Sales

lord kennedy of southwark: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to control the sale of dangerous acids.

baroness williams of trafford: We are developing a set of voluntary commitments for retailers to restrict access to the most harmful corrosive products. We are currently discussing the commitments with the British Retail Consortium. We are also undertaking work to review the Poisons Act 1972 and how it controls the sale of particular acids and corrosive substances.

Asylum

lord mcinnes of kilwinning: To ask Her Majesty's Government, in the light of the recommendations of the report Refugees Welcome? by the All Party Parliamentary Group on Refugees, what measures they have taken to improve the experience of successful asylum seekers.

baroness williams of trafford: We are working to ensure that asylum seekers in Home Office accommodation who are granted refugee status are able to access the mainstream benefits system smoothly if they continue to need support to cover their living needs.In particular, we have established a new process that provides additional support to refugees during their transition on to mainstream benefits. That support involves offering a prompt appointment with the Department for Work and Pensions’ “vulnerable persons” service, and further assistance to ensure they receive the first payment of any benefit they are entitled to before their Home Office support comes to an end.

Asylum

lord mcinnes of kilwinning: To ask Her Majesty's Government what lessons have been learned from the integration of recent Syrian refugees, in particular in relation to the provision of (1) housing, (2) National Insurance numbers, and (3) support in finding employment;whether those lessons are being deployed to ensure effective integration and support for successful non-Syrian asylum seekers; and if so, how.

baroness williams of trafford: The ability to plan for the arrival in the UK of those refugees who have been resettled in this country because they are fleeing the conflict in Syria has meant that we are able to provide appropriate support upon arrival. This involves planning for their accommodation and providing caseworker support to access public services, including the service provided by DWP. A pilot to provide bespoke employment support is also in place. Additional funding has been made available by the Home Office and Department for Work and Pensions to provide increased levels of English for Speakers of Other Languages tuition, which will also significantly improve the chances of finding employment. We will evaluate the results of the programme, including the employment pilot, to see what lessons may be learnt.

Hillsborough Families' Experiences Review

lord rosser: To ask Her Majesty's Government when the report by Bishop James Jones into the Hillsborough families’ experiences was received; when it will be made publicly available; and whether it has addressed issues relating tolegal representation for families of victims at coroners' inquests where the police are legally represented.

baroness williams of trafford: Bishop James Jones submitted a copy of his report into the experiences of the Hillsborough families to the Home Secretary on 20 June 2017. On 8 September 2017 he submitted a version that takes account of the Crown Prosecution Service’s charging decisions announced on 28 June 2017. That report will be considered by the Government. The report and separately the Government’s response will be published in due course. In the meantime we are not in a position to comment on its contents.

Visas

viscount waverley: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether biometric and fingerprint data taken from a visa applicant's application to enter the UK are deleted from any database if that applicant is subsequently refused entry; and if not, for what specific purpose the data are retained.

baroness williams of trafford: Fingerprints taken from visa applicants are normally retained for up to ten years regardless of whether the application was successful, as set out in regulations made under the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002.This enables the Secretary of State to identify easily those who make further applications for visas to come to the UK, preventing immigration abuse and those who are a risk of high harm from entering the country.

Offences against Children

baroness walmsley: To ask Her Majesty's Government when they plan to publish their response to the Home Office public consultation, Reporting and Acting on Child Abuse and Neglect.

baroness williams of trafford: The previous Government launched a consultation on reporting and acting on child abuse and neglect. This sought views on the introduction of possible new measures including a mandatory reporting duty or a duty to act. The Government has reviewed the consultation responses and will publish its response in due course.

Entry Clearances: Overseas Students

baroness garden of frognal: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many international students left the UK without (1) accessing work experience, or (2) gaining a qualification, in the last year for which figures are available.

baroness williams of trafford: The information you have requested is not included in statistics published by the Home Office.

Asylum: LGBT People

lord scriven: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many people claimed asylum in the UK on the grounds of sexual orientation or gender identity in the last 18 months; and of those that did, how many have been granted the right to remain in the UK.

baroness williams of trafford: The Home Office remains committed to publishing information on the number of people claiming asylum on the basis of sexual orientation. Work is ongoing to assure the quality of the data for publication in line with reporting standards.

Police: Biometrics

lord scriven: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many individuals have asked to have their facial images removed from police databases in the years (1) 2014, (2) 2015, (3) 2016, and (4) 2017 to date; and of those who have asked, what percentage have had their images removed.

baroness williams of trafford: The information requested is not centrally collected.

Immigrants: Detainees

lord marlesford: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the merits of detaining (1) persons awaiting deportation who have served custodial prison sentences, and (2) others awaiting deportation,in separate establishments.

baroness williams of trafford: All individuals entering immigration detention are risk assessed and accommodated under the processes set out in Detention Services Order 03/2016. The Home Office seeks to remove foreign national offenders at the earliest opportunity. Where that is not possible, foreign national offenders awaiting deportation will normally be transferred into immigration detention on completion of their sentence. However, those assessed as unsuitable for the immigration detention estate, for reasons of safety and control, remain in prison. We continue to keep the management of foreign national offenders in the detention estate under review.

Immigration Controls

lord marlesford: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether immigration officers, when scanning the passports of arrivals in the UK,are automatically alerted to any person arriving at a UK port of entry who is subject to a deportation order.

baroness williams of trafford: The UK holds a watchlist of adverse information and intelligence drawn from a variety of sources, including the police. The system is used by Home Office staff for the purposes of national security and the detection and prevention of crime. It is longstanding policy not to discuss either the specific data held on the watchlist, the source of the data or how it is used as to do so would be counterproductive.

Hate Crime

lord scriven: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they are planning toreview hate crime laws so that hate crimes based on sexual orientation, gender identity, and disability are treated equally to those based on race and faith, by making them aggravated offences.

baroness williams of trafford: We have one of the strongest legislative frameworks in the world to tackle hate crime. The hate crime action plan published in July 2016 includes new actions to ensure the legislation is used effectively to support victims and deal with perpetrators. We keep our legislation under review. Since 2010 the Government has strengthened legislation to offer further protection for transgender and disabled people and on the grounds of sexual orientation.

Deportation: EU Nationals

baroness hamwee: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the breakdown of the reasons for the deportation of EU nationals in (1) the first quarter of 2016, and (2) the first quarter of this year.

baroness williams of trafford: The Home Office does not hold the information in the format requested.

HM Treasury

EP Committee of Inquiry into Money Laundering, Tax Avoidance and Tax Evasion

lord kennedy of southwark: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Bates on 28 July (HL997), whether they received a request for ministers to meet the European Parliament's Committee of Inquiry into Money Laundering, Tax Avoidance and Tax Evasion; and if so, what was their response.

lord bates: The European Parliament’s Committee of Inquiry into Money Laundering, Tax Avoidance and Tax Evasion requested a meeting with ministers during the Committee’s two-day visit to London during February 2017. Ministers were unavailable on the days requested and the Committee met with senior officials from the UK’s cross-agency Panama Papers Taskforce.

Credit

lord mendelsohn: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the finding contained in the Bank of England's Money and Credit June 2017 Statistical Release that there was a 10 per cent rise in outstanding unsecured consumer credit in the year to June.

lord bates: The Treasury monitors the Bank of England’s Money and Credit statistical releases and other statistical publications. The government established an independent Financial Policy Committee (FPC) and gave the FPC a primary objective to identify, monitor and take action to remove or reduce systemic risks with a view to protecting and enhancing financial stability. The FPC’s June 2017 Financial Stability Report (FSR), published on 27 June, assesses recent trends in unsecured debt in the consumer credit market. The FSR notes that consumer credit has been growing rapidly, but that loss rates on consumer credit lending are low at present.

Debts

lord mendelsohn: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the finding contained in the Bank of England's Money and Credit June 2017 Statistical Release thatone in six of the 2.2 million people with personal debt are in financial distress; and what action they are taking to reduce consumer debt.

lord bates: The government monitors the Bank of England’s statistical releases, including Money and Credit, and is committed to supporting all those affected by problem debt. We have a range of measures in place to help achieve that. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) regulates the consumer credit market, and has introduced binding rules to strengthen consumer protection. They are based on the principle that money should only be lent to a consumer if they can afford to repay it; lenders must show forbearance if there is evidence of financial difficulty. The FCA also capped the cost of payday loans. As part of a review of this price cap, the FCA will examine the high-cost credit market more broadly and consider whether further interventions are necessary to address the risk of consumer harm. The Money Advice Service (MAS), which was set up by the government, coordinates the provision of free-to-client debt advice. In 2016/17, MAS spent just under £49 million on its debt advice work, directing around 90% of this to fund frontline services. This led to more than 440,000 free-to-client debt advice sessions being delivered face-to-face, over the phone and online across the UK. In the Queen’s Speech, the government announced the Financial Guidance and Claims Bill. This will legislate to restructure the financial guidance landscape and bring debt advice, money guidance, and pensions guidance together in a single body, and give consumers better access to the financial information they need. This Bill is currently going through Parliament.

Business: Loans

lord mendelsohn: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the findings contained in the Bank of England's Money and Credit June 2017 Statistical Release that there was (1) a £0.2 billion fall in loans to non-financial small and medium enterprises, and (2) an £8.2 billion rise in loans to large business, in the year to June.

lord bates: The Treasury monitors the Bank of England’s Money and Credit statistical releases and other statistical publications.The Government is supporting lending to SMEs in a variety of ways, such as through the establishment of the British Business Bank to make finance markets work better for small businesses. The Government is also helping alternative lenders which lend to small businesses, for example through support for challenger banks; introducing a bespoke regime for peer-to-peer lending; and structural interventions such as the bank referral scheme and the SME credit data sharing scheme.

Football: Taxation

lord tebbit: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether HMRC collects any revenue from football club transfer payments.

lord bates: Football transfer fees are subject to VAT according to the normal rules. Any profits made by football clubs are subject to Corporation Tax in the usual way. Payments made to players as part of their transfer, such as signing-on fees, are taxable as earnings.

Speed Limits: Fines

lord jopling: To ask Her Majesty's Government where the proceeds from speeding fines for motoring offences are directed; and to what activities and whose budgets they are directed.

lord bates: Speeding fines for motoring offences are directed into the Consolidated Fund. The fund is administered by HM Treasury and is used to support general expenditure on public services such as policing, healthcare, local government grants and transport. Annual accounts for the Fund can be found on the Government’s consolidated fund website.

European Economic Area

lord lea of crondall: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, if the UK were toremain inthe EEAby joiningEFTA after leaving the EU, the annual cost to the UK in terms of liabilities to the EU would remain the same as if the UK had remained in the EU; and if not, what is their estimate of the reduction or increase in that cost.

lord bates: The arrangements for withdrawal from the EU, including any financial or subsequent trading arrangements with the EU, will be a matter for the withdrawal agreement as part of the Article 50 process. The UK government is committed to working with the EU to reach a fair arrangement for Britain’s exit and the best deal for UK taxpayers.

Exchange Rates

lord lea of crondall: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking, if any, to ensure that the pound sterling does not fall below parity with the euro.

lord bates: The UK has an inflation target, not an exchange rate target, and the government does not express a view on the level of the exchange rate. The value of sterling adjusts flexibly in response to economic conditions and market forces.

Debts

the lord bishop of st albans: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they intend to take to offer individuals relief from persistent debt; and whether they intend to introduce a statutory breathing space scheme.

lord bates: The government is committed to supporting all those affected by problem debt, and has a range of measures in place. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) regulates the consumer credit market, and has introduced binding rules to strengthen consumer protection. They are based on the principle that money should only be lent to a consumer if they can afford to repay it; lenders must show forbearance if there is evidence of financial difficulty. The FCA also capped the cost of payday loans. As part of a review of this price cap, the FCA will examine the high-cost credit market more broadly (such as rent-to-own), and consider whether further interventions are necessary to address the risk of consumer harm. The Money Advice Service (MAS), which was set up by the government, coordinates the provision of free-to-client debt advice. In 2016/17, MAS spent just under £49 million on its debt advice work, directing around 90% of this to fund frontline services. This led to more than 440,000 free-to-client debt advice sessions being delivered face-to-face, over the phone and online across the UK. In the Queen’s Speech, the government announced the Financial Guidance and Claims Bill. This will legislate to restructure the financial guidance landscape and bring debt advice, money guidance, and pensions guidance together in a single body, and give consumers better access to the financial information they need. This Bill is currently going through Parliament.

Credit Cards

the lord bishop of st albans: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to introduce measures to prevent the automatic increase of credit card limits.

lord bates: The regulation of consumer credit including credit cards is a matter for the Financial Conduct Authority. Last year, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) published the results of its Credit Card Market Study. As a result of this study, the FCA has taken action to tackle persistent debt in the credit card market. As part of this, the industry has also developed a voluntary agreement to give greater control to customers and to restrict offers of credit limit increases. We have passed the Lord Bishop’s question on to the FCA, who will reply directly to him by letter. A copy of the letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

Non-domestic Rates: Valuation

lord mendelsohn: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many small and medium sized businesses will be impacted by the Valuation Office Agency's decision to class communal spaces such as staircases, corridors and lifts as separate premises for business rate purposes; and how many such businesses will be billed retrospectively as a result of this change.

lord mendelsohn: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact on small and medium sized businesses of the Valuation Office Agency's decision to class communal spaces such as staircases, corridors and lifts as separate premises for the calculation of business rates.

lord bates: In July 2015, the Supreme Court clarified existing rating law relating to communal spaces such as staircases, corridors and lifts. The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) has a legal duty to adapt its practices to reflect the judgment. The VOA assesses the value of property and not the businesses that occupy the property. As such, it does not hold information on whether the occupant of a property is a small or medium business.

Cars: Sales

baroness randerson: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their estimate of thenumber of personal contract purchase plans taken out to finance car purchases over each of the last five years; andwhat assessment they have madeofthe potential impact of such loans on (1) the car industry, and (2) the UK economy, if there were to be a widespread failure to repay such loans.

lord bates: The government established an independent Financial Policy Committee (FPC) and gave the FPC a primary objective to identify, monitor and take action to remove or reduce systemic risks with a view to protecting and enhancing financial stability. The FPC’s June 2017 Financial Stability Report (FSR), assesses recent trends in the consumer credit market, including dealership car finance and personal contract purchase (PCP) agreements. The FSR notes that PCP agreements have been growing rapidly, from around three-fifths of new car purchases financed through dealership car finance in 2011 to four-fifths in 2016, but that arrear rates on dealership car finance are generally lower that other forms of consumer credit.

Northern Ireland Office

Belfast Agreement

lord maginnis of drumglass: To ask Her Majesty's Government on how many occasions the current Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has met with and consulted each of the Belfast Agreement participants, (1) Lord Alderdice, (2) Lord Empey, (3) Lord Kilclooney, (4) Lord Maginnis of Drumglass, and (5) Lord Trimble,(a) as a group, or (b) individually; andwhat are thedetails ofthose meetings.

lord bourne of aberystwyth: The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has regular meetings with Parliamentarians, including regular events for members of the House of Lords with an interest in Northern Ireland affairs, to which these five members are invited.

Department for International Trade

Trade Agreements

lord roberts of llandudno: To ask Her Majesty's Government what flexibility they will seek in the terms of any new trade deal negotiated with non-EU countries to take account of as yet unknown restrictions inserted in any future deal between the UK and EU.

baroness sugg: The departmental responsibility for the EU-UK trade agreement lies with the Department for Exiting the EU.We are considering in depth, our future trading relationships with partners as we prepare to leave the EU. We will consider what this means for negotiating an ambitious trade agreement with the EU, as well as striking agreements with countries outside the EU.

The Senior Deputy Speaker

House of Lords: Catering

lord kennedy of southwark: To ask the Senior Deputy Speaker,  further to the Written Answer by the Senior Deputy Speaker on 31 July (HL1160), what steps he is taking to increase the number of British products on sale in all outlets in the House of Lords, including British wine.

lord laming: The Senior Deputy Speaker has asked me, as Chairman of the Services Committee, to respond on his behalf.The vast majority of fresh products purchased by House of Lords Catering and Retail Services (CRS) are British, and CRS has an ongoing policy to continue to increase its use of British products, taking account of procurement and value for money tests. British produce is always preferred when in season, and menus are designed to incorporate British sustainable products and showcase British seasonal produce where possible. The majority of the main ingredients in CRS dishes, such as meat, poultry, fish and dairy produce, are British.In House of Lords bars, CRS aims to supply a range of beverages including British options; CRS has recently changed supplier to increase its offering of British craft ales and lagers.CRS aims to increase the selection of British wines available in House of Lords restaurants and bars. Additional British wines will appear on the wine lists after the conference recess.For the House of Lords retail shop, CRS aims to increase its ranges of British products; work is underway to develop with its suppliers products that would enhance the British selection on offer.